Steeplechase may change venues next year

Thursday

Apr 19, 2012 at 10:52 PM

The 66th annual Block House Steeplechase happens again Saturday at the Foothills Equestrian Nature Center in Tryon, with this possibly being the last run at its current venue.

The 66th annual Block House Steeplechase happens again Saturday at the Foothills Equestrian Nature Center in Tryon, with this possibly being the last run at its current venue.The Tryon Riding and Hunt Club has been preparing its own new facility — the Green Creek Equestrian Park — adjacent to its home office and it appears it should be ready for next year's event, the longest running steeplechase in the state."We have gotten the turf in and we feel like it is prepared for the races next year," TRHC assistant director Jen Hicks said. "We have some other requirements we need to meet to make it definite and will make a decision in the middle of the summer if we'll be moving next year, but it looks pretty hopeful."Where we currently run the races is not our facility, so this would be something that's ours. It was something we felt as a club would be more appropriate so we've spent the last couple of years getting the grass prepared and it's looking like its ready to go."The Block House Steeplechase has become one of the area's biggest social events in addition to the four races (including the headlining "Block House" featured race) sanctioned by the National Steeplechase Association, with combined purses of $65,000 and one or two local amateur races depending upon the level of participation.The atmosphere around the track is one big party and promoted as such, with accompanying events like the annual men's, women's and kid's hat contests, a tailgating contest, parade of hounds and just plain old great premier people-watching."It's definitely a social event and you'll see the folks wearing suits and fancy hats all dressed to the nines and then you'll see others in everyday jeans and flip flops," Hicks said. "It's always a nice variety and nice mix in the crowd and everybody has a good time. There are lots of families and it's a fun place to bring the kids. It's something exciting for everybody to do here."Hicks acknowledged the event has held fast to its appeal for a long time and there are attendees who have been coming for more than 40 consecutive years."It's the biggest event that happens here, it's nationally recognized as part of the national circuit so the horses running in the Block House this year are very well respected horses and it's going to be a great race," Hicks said. "Since we have sort of a unique track in that it has some hills it draws a different kind of horse than what might go to the Carolina Cup or someplace flatter so it's just a fun event every year and a nice day to be out in the country."It's just got a big, broad appeal. Even if you're not that into horses, it's still fun to come watch the races."

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